Apparatus for rectifying alternating electric currents



NOV. 24, 1931. PETER 1,833,332

APPARATUS FOR RECTIFYING ALTERNATING ELECTRIC CURRENTS Filed Nov. 15, 1928 lNVENTO R w A A H- Pet :5 r,

aka-W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1931 U ITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE LESLIE nuns'r 2mm, 01? LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro

THE UNION swrrcr: & SIGNAL COMPANY, or SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A coa- IPORATION OFv PENNSYLVANIA APPARA'IP'S FOR BECTIFYING- ALTERNATING ELECTRIC C'U Applicationfiled November 15, 1928, SeriafNo. 319,526, and in Great Britain December 19, '1927.

My invention relates to apparatus for rec- 'tifying alternating electric currents of the kind comprising rectifying elements each consisting ofa metal member having a layer of a compound of the metal formed directly thereon. In order to obtain full wave recti-' fication with apparatus of this character four groups of rectifying units each consisting of a number of rectifying elements are connected to form a Gratz or Wheatstone bridge in According to the principal feature of the "invention each of the four rectifying units. or

groups or arms of the bridge consists of a column of superposed imperforate metal discs each coated on one face thereof with a layer of acompound of the metal of which the disc is composed. In particular copper discs coated on one face with a layer of cu- 'prous oxide are found to be preferable and one another and held in position by means of each unit or arm of the bridge consists of a number of discs superposed upon one another to form a column, the four columns thus constituted being arranged parallel to suitable end plates connected together by a single bolt or rod.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form of rectifying apparatus embodying the invention, Fig. 2 being a sectional plan view thereof on the lines IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the several elements of which the unit'shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are, composed.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the apparatus comprises four columns of copper discs each coated on one side with a layer of cuprous oxide. Each of these discs is of the form shown at 1 in Fig. 3 and the discs are separated from-one another by a lead washer of the form shown'at 2. The end disc of each column is of the form shown at 3 in Fig. 3 and is provided with a lug 4 for efiecting the necessary electrical connection of the unit and the columns thus built up are held in position between upper and lower end plates 5, 6 of square form, an insulating Washer 7 being interposed between each of the end plates 5, 6 and the adjacentends of the columns of the discs. The end plates 5, 6.

are each provided with a central aperture through which a supporting bolt 8 passes this bolt extending to the full length of the columns and projecting beyond the end plates 5, 6 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The bolt 8 is surrounded by an insulating sleeve 9 and at each end of the bolt, nuts 10 and spring washers 11 are provided for enabling the end plates 5, 6 to be caused to grip the columns securely and to exert pressure upon the discs of which each column is composed. structure thus formed is enclosed in an insula ting casing 12 in the form of a tube of square section.

The imperforate discs 1 may each .be constituted by the central portion removed from a larger disc and forming a washer for recti- The fying element-of the kind comprising a num- -berof perforated elements traversed by a sup porting bolt or spindle and the invention being particularly, although not exclusively applicable to rectifying apparatus of relatively small capacity, the invention enables material to be conveniently and effectively utilized which would otherwise be regarded as waste. The'several' rectifying elements 1 of each column are usually connected in series with one another as above described but obvious-,

ly each unit or arm of the bridge may be constituted by a number of such columns connected in parallel with one another in which case each group or column constituting a unit or arm of the bridge will be suitably spaced from the remaining groups all the units being each held in position by a single pair of end plates and a. single securing rod or The construction of the individual rectifying units may be that described in my copending application No. 34,341 dated the 19th December 1927, and in the case of each arm or unit of the bridge comprising a number of groups or columns vof elements the parallel connection of the various columns of the groups-may be effected by heat dissipatrespects in order to meet particular conditions without exceeding the scope'of the in,-

vention. I

Having now particularlydescribed and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to' be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

tangle formed by said column, and means for clampingsaid plates against the ends of said columns by rigidly attaching the plates to.

said strut.

7 A rectifying device comprising two spaced parallel end plates, a .centrally located rod passing through said plates, a plurality of rectifying columns located between said plates and disposed around said rod, and means for attaching said plates to sa1d rod.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature. LESLIE HURST PETER.

1. Apparatus for rectifying alternating electric currents of the kind described comprising four rectifying units or groups 'in which each of these units consists of a column of superposed imperforate metal discs each .coated on' one face thereof with a layer of a compound of the metal of-which the disc is said columns.

composed, the four columns b 'ng arranged arallel to one another and he d in position y means of suitable end plates connected together pose speci 2. A rectifying device comprising two spaced parallel end plates, a centrally disposed rod connecting said end plates, a plubg a single bolt or rod, for the purrality of rectifym columns located between said end plates an disposed in parallel relation to said rod and to each other, and means associated with said rod for clamping said plates in fixed 3. A rectifying device comprising two spaced parallel end plates, acentrally disposed rod connecting saidend plates, a plurality of rectffyin columns located between said end plates an disposed in parallel relation to sa1d rod and to each other, and'means for ri 'dly attaching each of said end plates to sai rod.

4. A rectifying device comprising a base,

7 T a supporting strut secured centrally to said base, securing means on the free *end' of said strut, and a plurality of rectifying columns displosed in spaced relation about said strut; w1t the ends of each column abutting re-' I spectively against said base and said securing 5. A recti g device comprising twoparallel space end plates, four parallel recti ing columns dis osed in rectangular formation between sa1d plates, and means for clamping said plates against the ends of said columns.

6.- A recti g device comprising two arallel space end plates, four parallel rectig columns disposed in rectangular I formation between said plates, a strut connecting'said plates at the center ofth'e recpositions against the ends of I 

